First Love – Part 16

After being shown around, the teens settle in to entertain themselves. Brad asks if there is a TV anywhere.

“In the game room,” Jose replied. “I’m afraid it doesn’t get much. The mountains and hills keep us from getting very good reception. We’ve got a stereo and tape player with a pretty good album collection. That’s if you can decide on what music you want to listen to.” He chuckled. “There’s a large selection of games and we’ve got a ping pong table.”

“Pool?” Clayton asked hopefully.

“What, the Devil’s Game?” Jose asked. He sounded so serious, they thought he meant it until he started laughing. “Yes, we’ve got a nice pool table. Also donated. Anything else you need?”

“We’re fine for now,” Craig replied.

“Great. I’m going to go check on the progress of dinner and I’ll come get you when it’s set up in the fellowship hall.” He tipped his hat and walked quickly to the back of the building.

“Well,” Craig said, grinning. “Let’s get washed up.”

“I want a shower,” Claire declared. “Where is it?”

“I don’t know,” Craig replied. “Why don’t you go look. He said it was downstairs.”

“Ugh!” She shuddered. “There’s a downstairs? Is that where they keep the rats and dead bodies?”

“Yes,” Clayton said, leaning close, his voice dropping nearly an octave as he spoke. “There are dead bodies of tall, blonde girls. Their dead eyes staring at nothing as the rats eat their once beautiful faces.” He pretended to take a bite of something, chewing noisily.

Claire looked as if she wanted to slap him. Instead, she huffed and turned on her heel, carrying her bag with her. Jane followed, dragging Beverly and Denise along with them.

“That wasn’t necessary,” Craig said, but his dark eyes twinkled.

“Oh, no, sir—but it was fun.”

“Let’s explore,” Patti said to Madison. “I want to see the rest of this place. I have a feeling it’s going to be interesting.”

“I’ll go with,” Brad volunteered.

“I’m just looking for the pool table,” Daniel declared.

“I want music,” Richard added.

“Sounds good,” Clayton said.

They trooped off, finding different things to distract them. They hadn’t been gone ten minutes when blood curdling screams ripped through the quiet. It took several minutes to located the door to the basement. Finally, it was discovered, but the screaming had stopped. Instead, there was loud, angry arguing, followed by what sounded like a slap.

They clamored down narrow wooden stairs and found themselves in a dimly lit basement. A few scattered windows at ground level, added to the light of scattered light bulbs. Jane stood in the middle of the room, clutching her cheek. Beverly held her while she cried. Denise also gave what comfort she could. Claire stood several feet away in front of a precarious structure of pipe and cheap plastic curtains. A small tiled area could be seen under the edge of the plastic. The floor was wet and water gurgled as it curled down the drain.